Dear Member,
The years 1995/6 came to a close with impressive achievements in all fields of activity by the Center. The number of members grew, and it now stands at 1,100 people, and every month new members join. Four events were arranged for members who contributed to exhibits at the Museum and memorialized their loved ones. These contributions helped us develop and enrich the Museum. Work on the "Life Cycle" exhibition was completed, as was the exhibition on the festivals in the Synagogue - the Succah and the High Holidays; soon the Sabbath exhibit will be completed.
Events of 1995
In 1995, nine study days on a variety of subjects were held. The most notable was the preparatory meeting for the conference of graduates of the Shamash and Alliance schools, attended by about 700 people. In consequence of this meeting an international conference was planned to take place at Heikhal Hatarbut in Tel Aviv, with the participation of over 2500 people from Israel and abroad.
Musical events
This year two musical events were held: an evening in memory of the Kiwaiti brothers and an evening devoted to Prof. Yitzhak Avishur's book "Men's Songs". Both these events were attended by about 1,100 people.
Informants' Gathering
We held a three-day gathering of informants at the Avia Hotel, with the participation of about 100 researchers and interviewers. Much material was collected and documented on video and audio cassettes. For this gathering, see a separate article in this issue of Nehardea.
Acquisitions
In 1995 much equipment was acquired. In the area of computerization purchases were made of software and hardware for documenting genealogies and cataloguing books, objects, pictures, documents and other collections at the Center. Similarly, photography equipment was obtained with high-tech sophisticated video systems for documenting verbally and for recording items. We sent staff members on professional courses for operating this equipment. This year the Center joined the internet and began to spread the heritage of Babylonian Jewry across Israel and the world, especially to schools and universities. All the acquisitions mentioned were made possible through special budgets provided by the Ministry of Education and Culture and donors among the members of the Center Society.
Events abroad
Four events were held abroad: in Toronto, Montreal, New York and Los Angeles. We regard it as highly important to strengthen the ties with former members of the community who reside abroad. At these events the Center's exhibit was mounted and well-attended functions were held, some with the participation of the singer Aziz Jalal. The Chairman of the Center, Mr. Mordechai Ben-Porat, was present in Toronto and New York, and the other events were attended by Mr. Shmuel Azuz as the Center's representative. We are studying the possibility to hold such an event in London also.
Other events
On 15 August 1995 a festive gathering took place for the opening of the exhibit "Birth" in the "Jewish Life-Cycle" wing. The exhibition was made possible through the generosity of Prof. Shaul and Edith Yarkoni (New Jersey) in memory of his father David Shaul Kadir. The audience that evening was delighted by the renewed life-cycle display, which was planned with particularly impressive care and design.
On 21 December an evening was held on the occasion of the appearance of "A Smile in the Tent" by the journalist Barukh Meiri of the Maariv newspaper and the artist Yitzhak Haik (of Haik Bamot). About 300 people were present. The participants showed great interest in this book, in which the hard life in the transit camps is documented with a smile and humor. Among those present were Mr. Yaakov Nimrodi and his wife. Mr. Nimrodi was honored with the lighting of the Hannuka candle.
On 31 December 1995 an evening was held on the occasion of the publication of two books: "The Prophecies of a Madman in a Damnable City" by Samir Nakash, and "The Dialect of the Jews of Babylonia" by G. Yonah and R. Rejwan. Present were Prof. Shmuel Moreh, Dr. Nissim Kazzaz, the author Samir Nakash, and Mrs. G. Yonah.
Events of 1996
On 9 January 1996 a memorial ceremony was held for the martyrs of Iraq. This year Chief Superintendent Aryeh Bibi, Commissioner of the Prisons Service, was invited, and among other participants were the Chairman of the Center Mr. Mordechai Ben-Porat, his deputy Mr. Arie Shemesh, the Mayor of Or Yehuda Mr. Shabi Tamir, and a large public.
On 19 February 1996 a visit to the Center was made by the Sassoon family of Singapore, who came at the initiative of Dr. Aryeh Sha'ya, who visited Singapore and discovered a family relationship with the Sassoon family, who lived in Singapore and Indonesia. The family, which numbers 25 persons, arrived in full, including sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, and the children, and they were welcomed by the Chairman of the Center, Mr. Mordechai Ben-Porat and the Director, Mr. Yigal Loushi. The family members were most enthusiastic about the Center and the Museum, and assured those present that they were the pioneers, who would pass on their impressions to the Jews of Singapore.
This visit renewed the connection between Babylonian Jewry in Israel and the Jewish community of Singapore.
This year the Center dealt with two particularly large and complex events: the annual function and the international conference of graduates of Jewish high-schools in Iraq.
The annual function
The fund-raising function was held on 28 April 1996 at Gan Ha'oranim in Tel Aviv, and was attended by about 700 people. Among the participants were former Minister Moshe Shahal and the Minister of Infrastructures Mr. Ariel Sharon. Both promised to assist in the building of the second floor of the Center. The function had been twice postponed on account of the horrendous terror attacks in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Eli Yatspan and his ensemble appeared in a series of sketches and entertaining acts. The lessons of this function were familiar from previous events. The speakers did not keep to the allotted schedule, and the time assigned to the artistic program and the fund-raising was reduced. In future we shall be obliged to cut down the number of speakers or cancel altogther the opening speeches at events of this sort.
International conferenceÝof graduates of schools in Iraq
The conference was held on 13-14 June 1996. It was on a large scale, with the participation of over 2500 people. It required complex organizational preparation and a special committee was set up to prepare the conference program. This was a moving encounter of graduates: personal pictures, certificates and memories of schooldays were exchanged. The Center documented the reminiscences and the encounters in video and audio recordings. We hope to hold future meetings of each school separately, in order to focus on a particular group. Following the conference, we received much positive feedback for the initiative and the conference program, but there was also some criticism, from which we shall learn lessons to add to the success of future events. (On the events of the conference see a separate article at the beginning of this issue.)
Teachers' courses
On 10 June 1996 a ceremony was held to mark the conclusion of a 14-week teachers' course at the Center. The closing ceremony was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Education, Mr. Zvi Gil, head of the Heritage section, Mrs. Gez Avigail, Mrs. Tsippi Wahab, and Mr. Avraham Adiv. The course was highly successful (see a report in this issue). My thanks go to Prof. Y. Avishur, Mrs. Ruth Attar, the devoted Director of the Guide Department at the Museum, and all those who contributed to the success of this imporant project.
Other events
On 9 May 1996 a ceremony was held for the opening of the exhibition on "Publications of Babylonian Jewry" through the generosity of Mr. Ezra Doron and his family. Mr. Doron donated important objects to the Museum and to the exhibition, for which we extend our thanks.
On 18 June 1996 the opening ceremony of the "Succot Festival" exhibition was held, made possible through the generosity of the family of Vicky and Thomas Murad of San Francisco. Participants were Mr. Mordechai Ben-Porat, Chairman of the Center, Dr. Zvi Yehuda, Director of the Institute for Research on Babylonian Jewry, and Dr. Shaul Sehayik, member of the Executive Committee, who was the initiator of this fund-raising. Mr. Murad is renowned for his generosity and his warmth towards the Center. Apart from his personal gifts he also is at pains to direct other donors to us; we thank him for his activity, and also his wife Vicky and Dr. Sehayik (see separate article).
On 17 July 1996 Rabbi David Yosef, the son of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, visited the Center. He was accompanied by Mr. Uzi Aharon, Deputy Mayor of Or Yehuda, Mr. Avraham Bakshi Doron, and other notable guests. The Rabbi stated how impressed he was and encouraged us to continue to expand our work.
Later on this year we have the visit of the honorable the Grand Rabbi and Rishon-le-Tsion, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef.
Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef in the Center
Kibbutz Hulda
On 21 July 1996 an "Iraq Day" took place at Kibbutz Hulda attended by about 150 pupils, teachers, and guides. We were happy to respond to their approach and help them to organize the program. Participants in the event were Mr. Yigal Loushi, Director of the Center, and the guides Rahel Silko, Nira Lev-Ari and Einat Halberstam. Likewise, the actress Limor Sehayik was invited to present a special program for this event. The journalist Mr. Shefi Gabbay impressed those present with his stories and anecdotes. Ten families of Babylonian origin live at Kibbutz Hulda, and they prepared traditional dishes of Babylonian Jewry for the enjoy-ment of all. Our hope is to expand the connection between the Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center and other kibbutzim throughout Israel.
Let me conclude with thanks and appreciation to all members of the Society for their participation in events, for their contributions of both objects and pictures as well as financial donations. Without the support of the members the Center could not exist and progress. I would like to suggest to members of the Society that they hold family events at the Center: to bring the family here, the children and the grandchildren. Here we shall host them, we shall show them films, and give them a guided tour of the Museum. A meal entirely of Iraqi dishes may be included in such a visit.
Events like these are held at the Center and win appre-ciation and renown.
